Santa Lucia Celebrations in Belpasso and Siracusa

By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

The spectacular and majestic baroque-styled Carri (mechanized floats) featuring the story of the life of Santa Lucia are among the highlights of the annual religious Festival of Santa Lucia in Belpasso. This year, they will be on display on the evenings of Dec. 11 and 12 in the city’s historic center, followed by the main festival on Dec. 13.

Photo by http://www.edizionincontri.it

It’s that time of the year again! On Dec. 13, religious festivals honoring Santa Lucia will take place in nearby Siracusa and Belpasso. These celebrations provide great venues for visitors to experience the Sicilian culture and religious faith.

Lucia, whose name means “light” was born in Siracusa to a rich and noble family in 283 A.D. and raised as a Christian. Although Lucia consecrated herself to Jesus, she was pressed by her mother Eutychia to marry a pagan nobleman. Since Eutychia had been suffering from chronic hemorrhage for several years, Lucia took her on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Agata in Catania, where she prayed for her healing.

That evening, Lucy had a vision of St. Agata who assured her that because of her strong faith, her mother had been cured. As a result of this miraculous cure, Lucia wanted to donate their properties to the poor and the sick. But this decision angered the man to whom she was betrothed who denounced Lucia as a Christian. She was brought before Paschasius, a pagan governor, but she refused to give up her and the cruel governor ordered Lucia to be severely punished.

According to tradition, several miracles occurred during her torture. Soldiers tried to set her on fire, but she did not burn. Paschasius then planned to force her into prostitution, but when guards went to drag her away, they could not move her. And after Lucia’s eyes were plucked out during her torture, God miraculously restored her sight.

This explains why she is represented as a maiden with her eyes in a dish, on a book, or in a shell and also why she is invoked against blindness and eye diseases. Saint Lucia is also protector against fire and the patron for people suffering from infection, hemorrhage, and sore throat.

Eventually, Lucia was beheaded on the Dec. 13 in the year 304 A.D. Her body remained in Siracusa for many years, but in 1039, the Byzantine general Maniace took her remains to Constantinople and then Venice, where they are still preserved in a glass-enclosed sarcophagus behind the altar of SS. Geremia e Lucia church. Some of her relics are scattered in churches throughout Europe. A portion of her arm is kept inside the cathedrals both in Siracusa and Belpasso.

Siracusa Celebrations

Italian On Dec. 13, the festival begins at 1015 with a solemn holy mass celebrated at the cathedral. During the Mass, religious chants are also performed. In the afternoon at 1530, the carriage, weighing 14 tons and carrying the saint’s holy relics and her statue, is carried in procession for seven hours from the cathedral to the church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro. Three groups of 48 men wearing green berets take shifts carrying it. Many devotees, who also come from the neighboring cities, follow the procession barefoot.

During the festival, the blessing and the free distribution of the “cuccìa” takes place in several houses and churches. Cuccìa (cooked wheat) is a typical food that is prepared for the Saint Lucia celebrations. Tradition says it was first cooked in Siracusa in the 17th century as Santa Lucia worked a miracle during a terrible famine. Siracusa’s bishop gathered the starving people in the cathedral to pray and implore St. Lucia for a miracle. Suddenly, a dove flew down from the sky and roosted on the bishop’s shoulders. At the same time, a ship loaded with wheat sailed into the harbor and the wheat was boiled and eaten by the Siracusa people. Today, the cuccìa is served as a delicious porridge enriched with ricotta cheese, chocolate and candied fruits.

Belpasso Celebrations

On Dec.13, Belpasso’s celebrations begin with a holy mass starting at 0930 at the Chiesa Madre. At 1045 a procession leaves the church with the 18th century silver statue of the saint and her relics. Fireworks are performed while devotees dressed in a white tunic named accompany the holy carriage. The procession is repeated at 1530 throughout the city. One hour later, devotees perform the spectacular “Corsa della vara” (running while carrying the Santa Lucia statue up to a slope) in via Terza Retta di Levante. The day ends with spectacular evening fireworks.

On December 11 and 12 at 2100, 50-foot tall baroquestyled Carri (mechanized floats) featuring scenes telling of the life of Santa Lucia will be displayed in the historic center’s piazzas. The tradition of building floats originated in the 19th century as the local craftsmen wanted to express their special devotion to the saint. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/ ChiesaMadreBelpasso/